Military jury convicts once-acquitted NC solider in slayings of NC mother, 2 children in 1985

Jury find NC soldier guilty in 1985 triple slaying

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A soldier who was acquitted in civilian court more than 20 years ago has been convicted by a military jury of murdering a North Carolina mother and her two children in 1985.

Master Sgt. Timothy Hennis was found guilty of three counts of premeditated murder Thursday. The jury had deliberated less than three hours following three weeks of testimony in the case.

The jury will next decide if Hennis should be put to death. Those deliberations start Friday.

Hennis showed no reaction to the verdict. Relatives of his victims hugged and cried.

Hennis was first convicted in state court, but won an appeal and was acquitted in a second trial. He couldn’t be tried in state court again, so the case was turned over to the Army after investigators examined DNA evidence that couldn’t be tested in the mid-1980s.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — A soldier who was acquitted in civilian court nearly 25 years ago has been convicted by a military jury of murdering a North Carolina mother and her two children in 1985.

Master Sgt. Timothy Hennis was found guilty of three counts of premeditated murder Thursday. The jury had deliberated less than three hours following three weeks of testimony in the case.

The jury will next decide if Hennis should be put to death. Those deliberations start Friday.

Hennis showed no reaction to the verdict. Relatives of his victims hugged and cried.

Hennis was first convicted in state court, but won an appeal and was acquitted in a second trial. He couldn’t be tried in state court again, so the case was turned over to the Army after investigators examined DNA evidence that couldn’t be tested in the mid-1980s.

(This version CORRECTS time period in lede.)